Describe the terms of the Government of India Act, 1935.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] India to become a federation
2. [1] the Governor-General/Viceroy was head of the Federation and could exert special powers in the reserved subjects
3. [1] create two houses of parliament at central government level
4. [1] the upper house (Council of State) (1) to have 156 members from British India
5. [1] the upper house (Council of State) (1) to have 104 from the Princely States
6. [1] the lower house (Assembly) (1) to have 250 members from British India
7. [1] the lower house (Assembly) (1) to have 125 members from the Princely States
8. [1] diarchy introduced at central government level (defence, foreign affairs, ecclesiastical affairs and the tribal areas)
9. [1] to be administered by the Governor-General/Viceroy
10. [1] diarchy replaced at provincial level – provinces given some autonomy
11. [1] with the appointment of Provincial Governors
12. [1] number of provinces increased to 11
13. [1] two new provinces created - Orissa and Sindh
14. [1] and the NWF to become a full province
15. [1] Sindh separated from Bombay
16. [1] Bihar and Orissa separated into separate provinces
17. [1] Burma completely separated from India
18. [5-7] Level 3: Explanation, two explanations or one developed explanation, additional explanation(s) and/or developed explanation(s), Supported by relevant and accurate contextual knowledge
19. [2-4] Level 2: Identification/description, Identifies and/or describes using relevant and accurate contextual knowledge (1 mark per identification/description)
20. [1] Level 1: General answer, Valid general comment lacking specific knowledge
21. [0] Level 0: No creditable response
22. [13-14] Level 5: Explanation with evaluation/judgement, explanation at the top of Level 4 with a developed evaluation/judgement supported by relevant and accurate contextual knowledge
23. [10-12] Level 4: Explanation of both sides of the issue, one explanation of each side of the issue [10]; two explanations or one developed explanation of one-side of the issue and an explanation of the other side of the issue [11]; additional explanation(s) and/or developed explanation(s) from either side of the issue [12]; Supported by relevant and accurate contextual knowledge
24. [7-9] Level 3: Explanation of one-side of the issue, one explanation [7]; two explanations or one developed explanation [8]; additional explanation(s) and/or developed explanation(s) [9]; Supported by relevant and accurate contextual knowledge
25. [3-6] Level 2: Identification/description of the issue, Identifies and/or describes the issue using relevant and accurate contextual knowledge (1 mark per identification/description)
26. [1-2] Level 1: General answer, Valid general comment(s) lacking specific subject knowledge (1 mark per general comment)
27. [0] Level 0: No creditable response